What a chimera, then, is man! What a novelty! What a monster, what a chaos, what a contradiction, what a prodigy! Judge of all things, imbecile worm of the earth; depositary of truth, a sink of uncertainty and error; the pride and refuse of the universe!

Sunday, March 18, 2007

When I haue seene by times fell hand defacedThe rich proud cost of outworne buried age,When sometime loftie towers I see downe rased,And brasse eternall slaue to mortall rage.When I haue seene the hungry Ocean gaineAduantage on the Kingdome of the shoare,And the firme soile win of the watry maine,Increasing store with losse, and losse with store.When I haue seene such interchange of state,Or state it selfe confounded, to decay,Ruine hath taught me thus to ruminateThat Time will come and take my loue away. This thought is as a death which cannot choose But weepe to haue, that which it feares to loose.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Never would it occur to a child that a sheep, a pig, a cow or a chicken was good to eat, while, like Milton’s Adam, he would eagerly make a meal off fruit, nuts, thyme, mint, peas and broad beans which penetrate further and stimulate not only the appetite but other vague and deep nostalgias. We are closer to the Vegetable Kingdom than we know; is it not for man alone that mint, thyme, sage, and rosemary exhale “crush me and eat me!”—for us that opium poppy, coffee-berry, tea-plant and vine perfect themselves? Their aim is to be absorbed by us, even if it can only be achieved by attaching themselves to roast mutton.

The strongest have died there. Art is a luxury: it wants pure and calm hands. First, one makes a little concession, then two, then twenty. One deludes oneself over his own mortality for a long time. Then one doesn’t give a damn at all. And then one becomes stupid...

Sunday, March 04, 2007

The Fact that Earth is Heaven --Whether Heaven is Heaven or notIf not an AffidavitOf that specific spotNot only must confirm usThat it is not for usBut that it would affront usTo dwell in such a place --

Taken from the front platform of a special train run backward over the celebrated S curve. Not only are the passing trains and crowded platforms of great interest, but the view of up-town New York is an excellent one, showing acre upon acre of roofs, towers, steeples and towering apartment houses. As the "special" slows up at 92nd Street, a Harlem express dashes by, the engineer leaning out of his cab, and waving a good-bye. 150 feet. $22.50.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

2. The United States Government must have ready a white paper on Cuba, and should also be ready to give appropriate assistance to Cuban patriots in a similar effort. Action: Arthur Schlesinger in cooperation with the Department of State.